Macy's, JC Penney or Kohl's?

[autumnpalm]

I'll be visiting the US this weekend and looking to do some shopping for work clothes (flats, dress pants, blouses) and hoping to get some good deals. I'm not super familiar with American department stores so I'd love some input as to where would be best to look. I've found malls with Macy's, JC Penney and Kohl's and am wondering if there are some general opinions as to which are the best places to shop- particularly on a budget.

Am I missing out on any other stores that have inexpensive business casual clothes? I tend to shop primarily at LOFT when they have 40-50% off sales, Gap Outlet stores and H&M.

Thanks!

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

I prefer Macy's or Boston Store for a reasonable clothes store. You can almost always google "coupon code" for either store and come up with something.

I don't care for JCPenny, and I will occasionally shop in the teen section of Kohls. Other than that, I don't find any unique or flattering clothes at those stores.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

I'll be visiting the US this weekend and looking to do some shopping for work clothes (flats, dress pants, blouses) and hoping to get some good deals. I'm not super familiar with American department stores so I'd love some input as to where would be best to look. I've found malls with Macy's, JC Penney and Kohl's and am wondering if there are some general opinions as to which are the best places to shop- particularly on a budget.

Am I missing out on any other stores that have inexpensive business casual clothes? I tend to shop primarily at LOFT when they have 40-50% off sales, Gap Outlet stores and H&M.

Thanks!

I buy quite a bit from White House Black Market.

 

[NewRVLady]

What city will you shop in?
There are regional stores in some areas

I like to shop bargains at T j Maxx! Marshall's

Penneys don't like

Macy's DILlards are good

Kohls does have large racks of sale stuff now

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

Ohhh yes, I do love Marshalls and TJMaxx for GREAT bargain shopping. I always spend way too much money in those stores!

 

[autumnpalm]

We will be in upper NY state. I found a TJ Maxx AND Marshall's near where we'll be staying, thanks for the suggestions!

 

[disney4us2002]

I think it depends on your age as well. I doubt JCPenney will have much as I think (personally speaking) that they may be dying....Kohl's & Macy's have stuff I like but I'm late 40's. Dept stores may not be your best bet.

 

[Happy Snowman]

Kohl's will have the best prices...selection will depend on what you are actually looking for. You should be able to find some dress pants that are more on the business casual side vs the business professional side pretty easily. Tops will be hit or miss depending on what you want. I get a lot of my casual clothing at Kohl's. They have big sales going on now.

Macy's will have more business clothing, but at higher prices. They do have good sales though so check the clearance racks.

TJ Maxx and Marshalls are very hit or miss. They are stores that buy clothing that doesn't sell at other department stores and then sell at a discount. Sometimes I go in there and find a lot of great things, other times I find nothing.

JC Penney is eh.....I've had some luck finding shells and tops to wear under my suits there but not much else. They do have shorts that fit my too skinny/tall son though so we do stop there for those. Quality for a lot of their clothing is questionable---but not any worse than most stores now. Their colors are just 'off" so a lot of their things look cheep. Their navy pants, for example, are not a true navy and more of a lighter "dark blue" so that make them hard to coordinate with other clothing that is true navy blue.

This time of year is a good time to shop in the northern states though, most of the clothing will be marked down to get ready for the fall lines coming in.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Kohls is my preference. I think they have the best "bang for your buck". You can easily score coupons and discounts. I pretty much depend on Kohls and their 30% off coupons, or codes for the website for all my clothes shopping.

Since there is not a Macys right here close, I have like never really shopped there. I never see deals on like the deal sites so I never look at their website either. JC Penny, no, just no.

Tj Maxx can have stuff sometimes. I do not go there often because the store itself drives me crazy. It feels a bit disorganized or something to me. It has the feel of recipe including Big Lots mixed with Bed Bath and Beyond with a dash of Kohls.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Unless you get a kohl's card, I don't see kohl's being much of a bargain.


Of the stores, I like Macy's best.


I would also suggest Dress barn, Lerner New York (I think that is the name), and Ann Taylor Loft.

 

[NewRVLady]

We will be in upper NY state. I found a TJ Maxx AND Marshall's near where we'll be staying, thanks for the suggestions!

These have overflow from Dept stores-discounted
I have found brands I like (Lauren, polo) at both-it is "hit and miss"

 

[teambeaman]

Kohl's is inexpensive, but everything I've bought from them has fallen apart within a year (at most). I'd look at the sale racks at Macy's.

 

[NewRVLady]

I have bought lots of Ralph Lauren stuff at kohl's
They also carry Dana Buchanan (who is in dept stores)
And some of their brands have cute things-like ELLE

Also the big bridal designer-Vera Wang-has a line at Kohl's (if you are SKINNY )

 

[stsomewhere]

Kohl's is inexpensive, but everything I've bought from them has fallen apart within a year (at most). I'd look at the sale racks at Macy's.

I agree!

 

[CaliBear]

Macy's is where I'd go for work clothes, though you may find some staples at Penneys for a good price. Kohls is dirt cheap and I mean that in every way possible. I've bought some clothes there and they don't last, don't hold up well after a few washes even.

 

[cfriend416]

I never seem to find any bargains at Macy's, but I always do at JCP or Kohl's. However, I go to Kohl's and JCP semi-often, as they are 15 and 30 minutes from me, respectively. All the Macy's around here are at malls 1-1.5 hours away that I go to maybe once a year, if that. So maybe I just don't catch any of their sales.

Sears is another department store we have. I don't usually find to much I like there, but they do carry Lands End which is a nice line of clothes.

 

[mjkacmom]

You can find deals at Macy's with coupons and sales. Kohls marks up the prices too high for their sub-par clothing, and then puts everything on "sale," and then assumes everyone has a coupon, so they come out costing what they should. Macy's has brands you will find in other large department stores.

 

[asta]

I second the White House Black Market recommendation. I also like Chicos. You can sign up and receive coupons for both. I am 50+ and can never find things at department stores.

I especially don't like the quality and selection at Kohl's.

 

[bcla]

I'd suggest an outlet mall - preferably some place big if you want a lot of choices. The only issue would be spending way too much time shopping.

At some of the outlet malls I've been to, there used to be hordes of Japanese tourists dropped off by tour bus. These days it's more often than not Chinese tourists.